Hacker News Reader

Lying about WWII I could understand.

Lying about a freezing lake? What do the monks gain by falsifying those records?

> What do the monks gain by falsifying those records?

Depends on their motives. Depicting the world as chaotic or orderly can allow you to manipulate people's fears and hopes.

Exactly. Motives and intention matters. Read the freaking article, Duane. They were recording the data to forecast the harvest and rainfall for the coming year. It had nothing to do with whatever tinfoil hat motives you have flying around in your head.

I was not seriously suggesting the monks were manipulating the numbers; however, the lack of obvious motive does not imply an absolute lack of motive. It seems a little silly to attach any certainty to historical records without understanding the context, which may or may not be possible.

Notably absent are predictions of chaos/order from the monks and attendant pleas for money.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com